Suspicion for 10 Voices

By Mark Lawson

Starring: 

Simon Russell Beale as William Byrd 

Anton Lesser as Sir Francis Walsingham

Musical Director: Neil Brand

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, England was a protestant country standing alone against formidable European and papal enemies. Fear of a Roman Catholic fifth column was rife. But when William Byrd, Elizabeth's favourite composer, is arrested and charged with placing secret papist messages within the music of the Chapel Royal, the court is shocked and panic takes hold among the recusant community.

Byrd's dense polyphony is dissected and decoded and it seems sedition is undeniable. But the composer has a powerful protector - one whom not even Walsingham dare countermand.

Juliana Byrd: Rebecca Saire

Thomas Philippes: Gerard Murphy

Thomas Tallis: Jon Glover

Fr. Rodrigues: Neil Brand

Richard the boy singer: Joseph Hancock

Directed by Eoin O'Callaghan

A Big Fish production for BBC Radio 4

Saturday Drama

First broadcast: 

Sat 22nd Jun 2013

14:30 on BBC Radio 4 FM

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